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In October 2025, foundation year one (FY1) doctors in England voted for industrial action against the UK government, not only over reduced pay but also, for the first time, over specialty training bottlenecks.1 Through our experience as current or former BMA representatives we have been able to closely follow the organisation’s campaign for full pay restoration, recognising its implications for our future careers and the healthcare system that we work and study in. As one FY1 who has recently completed medical school and one medical student, we find the current situation for resident doctors incredibly frustrating. We want the government to commit to making changes that benefit resident doctors now and in the future. Moreover, the funding for medical students is inadequate, forcing some students to leave their studies or work long hours around their already busy schedules. This is a problem with clear fixes that should be implemented.